Fujifilm FinePix S7000 Zoom Review

JPEG Image Size & Quality

Standard Test Scene

The FinePix S7000 provides six image size/quality options
on the Photo Mode menu, these are labelled as 12MP F, 12MP N, 6MP, 3MP,
2MP and 1MP. Only the 12 MP size provides for selection of JPEG quality
(compression). In addition there is also a CCD-RAW option which creates
a .RAF file which can be converted using the supplied RAW File Converter
LE.

Lighting note: Because of the poor weather (dull and very
low light levels) in London at this time of year we decided to use our
Studio Strobe to light the scene, normally we use daylight.

To give an impression of what some of the combinations
of image size and quality produce the table below is a cross reference
of some of them:

While at first there doesn't appear to be very much difference
between the 12 MP Fine and 12 MP Normal modes it is possible to detect
some 'mosquito type' JPEG artifacts in the Normal quality image. Again
sharpening artifacts are spoiling an otherwise good image, there are fairly
strong white sharpening halos around dark detail in both the twelve and
six megapixel image sizes (although this can be alleviate by changing
the Sharpness setting to Soft - see below).

Image Parameters

The S7000 provides very little control over image processing
parameters, especially when you consider the impressive flexibility of
some of the competition (notably the Minolta DiMAGE A1). You can not for
instance output in any color space other than sRGB, nor can you directly
control color saturation or the tone curve used. From the Photo Menu you
can choose one of three color modes (normal, chrome - high color saturation,
B&W).

Sharpness

To my eye there is very little difference between Normal and Hard, certainly
in terms of visible sharpness. The Soft setting certainly removes some
of the sharpening artifacts but does require you to sharpen the image
later in post-processing (and those halo artifacts may well come back).
Samples below taken at the 6MP image size.

Normal

Soft

Hard

Color Mode

The Color Mode setting simply allows you to select the alternative color
output options of Chrome or B&W. The "Chrome" setting increases
color saturation and applies a more contrasty tone curve giving the image
more 'punch', although the Disney colors may not be to everyone's tastes.
Samples below taken at the 2MP image size.